The flag of St Piran is also the Cornish flag - white cross on a black background. It symbolises the discovery of tin by the saint as the white metal flowed from the black rock.

Who was St Piran?

St. Piran is the patron saint of Cornwall (Cornish: Kernow), the southern most corner of Great Britain. St Piran is the most famous of all the Irish saints who came to Cornwall and is said to have discovered tin.

Legend:

Legend tells us that St.Piran sailed to Cornwall on a millstone.
Originally it had been tied around his neck and he had been cast into the Atlantic by people jealous of his power to heal and work miracles.

As he was thrown off the cliff there was a bolt of lightning and a terrible crash of thunder, but as he reached the sea the storm suddenly abated, the sun came out and St.Piran could be seen seated peacefully on the millstone which was now floating on the surface of the water.

It bore him safely across to Cornwall and he landed between Newquay and Perranporth at Perran Beach, to which he gave his name.

Piran built himself a small chapel in Penhale sands and his first disciples were said to be a badger, a fox and a bear.